Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hi, Rick strings used to be 10-42, now they are 10-46

So did Rickenbacker change the nut spacing? and when did they make this change?

I have searched, but if covered elsewhere please let me know. thanks

ps , why did they change it anyway?

many thanks

kt66 wrote:Hi, Rick strings used to be 10-42, now they are 10-46...

ps , why did they change it anyway?

many thanks

My guess would be to make the string tension more even across the whole set.

it's been several years now, maybe even as long as a decade since they changed the gauges. I don't think it effected the tension or string spacing in any dramatic way.

Yeah, it was over a decade ago. I believe around 2004.

It wasn't just a string gauge change at that time.
- a different finishing process -- a UV process over the conversion varnish
- different fretboard wood -- change to Caribbean Rosewood
- pickup polepieces that can now be adjusted

Tommy wrote:Yeah, it was over a decade ago. I believe around 2004.

It wasn't just a string gauge change at that time.
- a different finishing process -- a UV process over the conversion varnish
- different fretboard wood -- change to Caribbean Rosewood
- pickup polepieces that can now be adjusted

IIRC, the UV cured finish started sometime in 2007; the CR fingerboard was introduced in late 2011; the adjustable pole pieces in 2007, I think.

The gauges were odd due to the compressed wound strings. I think the string starts near to a 46 but was compressed to 42. The tension changes probably not at all..
I have just put half a 12 string set of those old strings on a highly strung guitar. They sounded great when attacked with a big plectrum!

Eden.

weemac wrote:...I have just put half a 12 string set of those old strings on a highly strung guitar. They sounded great when attacked with a big plectrum!

Eden.

Nashville tuning!

jps wrote: IIRC, the UV cured finish started sometime in 2007; the CR fingerboard was introduced in late 2011; the adjustable pole pieces in 2007, I think.

Yeah, you could be right on those dates. I have a 2011 330 and it has all the updated features.

Glad I got a Ric with the updates. I really love the adjustable polepieces and a standard string gauge. As far as the aesthetic updates... UV finish? My older 1992 Ric seems to have a far more striking finish than my 2011 does, however the Caribbean Rosewood fretboard is actually pretty impressive -- got nice wood figuring in it.

A guess regarding the UV cured finish vs. conversion varnish, is two fold: faster finishing to help reduce the backlog, and for dealing with ever tighter California environmental regulations.

I love the CR fingerboards, it is a great looking wood.